Southampton Rotary and Rotary Hand Up Unite to Provide Clean Water to Guatemala
Southampton, Ontario - July 21, 2023 - Southampton Rotary, in collaboration with Rotary Hand Up, is excited to announce the receipt of a generous global grant of $34,000 CAD from the Rotary Foundation. This significant grant will contribute to a transformative project in Guatemala, aiming to construct eight Rain Harvesters with a total project value of $54,600 CAD. The Hand Up Clubs have contributed $19,600 to this project. As well as writing the grant application and leading the project on behalf of Hand Up the Rotary Club of Southampton has made a direct cash contribution of $2,000 CAD towards this vital endeavour.
On behalf of Hand Up, Southampton Rotary has closely partnered with the Rotary Club of Huehuetenango to execute this meaningful initiative. The project involves the installation of eight rain harvesters in the remote highland village of Tuilam, Guatemala, during the fall of 2023. This endeavor will provide a supplementary source of clean water for 85 families, dramatically improving their quality of life. The recent formal approval of the grant by the Rotary Foundation on June 23rd, 2023, further solidifies the project's commitment to making a lasting impact.
Tony Sheard, Chair of the club's International Services Committee, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "Our club has a proven track record of successfully completing international service projects, such as our water and maternity health projects in Cameroon. We are delighted to lead this venture in Guatemala on behalf of Hand Up, and we eagerly anticipate its completion in early 2024. The diligent work and collaboration with our partner club in Guatemala, the Rotary Club of Huehuetenango, have been instrumental in making this project a reality, facilitated by the power of modern communication tools such as WhatsApp and Google Translate."
This innovative project, developed over the past 18 months, will not only provide a supplementary water source for the 490 residents of Tuilam but also alleviate the burden of fetching water from a spring located approximately one kilometer down a steep hill from their village.
The Southampton Rotary Club, in partnership with Rotary Hand Up, takes great pride in undertaking this impactful project, ensuring access to clean water for the people of Tuilam, Guatemala. This initiative exemplifies the power of collaboration, compassion, and Rotary's unwavering commitment to improving lives worldwide.
About Hand Up:
Hand Up is an association of Rotary Clubs within Rotary District 6330 that has been empowering communities and transforming lives for nearly three decades. While their previous focus was on water, economic, and maternal health projects in Cameroon, recent endeavours have shifted their attention to Guatemala due to temporary suspensions caused by civil unrest and an unstable political climate in Cameroon. For More details: https://rotary6330.org/page/hand-up
